Half-Blooded | The Dark Child Prophecy Series [✔️]

Chapter 14: Locked In A Cage

I paced back and forth along the length of my cell for what felt like days rather than almost twenty-four hours. I had barely slept during the daylight hours, focused instead on how much longer until I was able to go home, and how I was going to escape if someone didn't come let me out soon.

"As soon as the full moon is over, she will be allowed to come home to the coven house," my grandfather's voice ran through my head.

That had been just over two weeks ago, seventeen days in total. That meant I had thirteen days left at Meadowlark. It was just enough time to get my act together, and kick Jason Hellmuth's ass a few times.

He almost hadn't come to my defense in front of the pack. I saw the fear in him for what could happen if he did. And when he had finally opened his mouth, it felt like he had only made half of an attempt to stop Vraal and Victoria from tossing me down into the cages like an animal.

Jason's thoughts played in my head again, the images of me—or some idea of me—being forced through soldier drills over and over again, of me being tested and treated like a lab rat for scientific study.

Angry, I turned and kicked the concrete wall. I wasn't an experiment. I growled loudly, hitting my hand against the cement again.

I sighed and closed my eyes when I felt my senses glaze over. I refused to lose control and be forced to stay longer than the thirteen days ahead of me. I wanted to go home. Once my pulse stopped pounding in my head, I opened my eyes and tried to relax again.

"Keep it together, Seren," I told myself and went back to pacing.

The door to the ground floor opened and my hands gripped into fists. I didn't even wait to see whose legs were descending on the steps. "Not interested," I said noisily, keeping my tone as obnoxious as possible. "I'm just fine down here with the rats and all one-hundred and twenty-six bricks in the wall."

"Serenity?"

I paused from about to shoot a hate-glare at who I had expected to be Jason. Instead, Maria was standing on the landing. My mood immediately sobered. "Please tell me he didn't send you down here to apologize for him."

The petite brunette quirked her mouth the same way Jason often did. She pulled on the wrists of her long-sleeved blouse and looked back up towards the doorway. "No, not exactly. I just came to see if you were ready to go back to your room."

I fought the need to scowl. "You mean they're actually going to let me out? Me, the rabid animal?" I asked sarcastically as I walked up to the bars and leaned one shoulder against them. I looked up at her through a gap between poles.

Maria sighed and came the rest of the way down the stairs. She pulled the keys out of her back pocket of her jeans. She plucked the right one from the ring and stepped over to the cage door. "She shouldn't have said that," she said softly. "And I'm sorry she did. You were pushed too far and they should have stopped the fight the moment Thomas hit the ground, the first time. Come on, let's get you out of here."

I watched as she undid the lock. There was a gentle click and then the door swung inward with a soft groan. The sigh that left me was larger than I expected. "Thank you," I said, stepping out of my cell.

Maria shut the door with a soft clanging sound and started to head up the steps again. "I'll take you back upstairs and you can change and clean up. I'm sure it wasn't exactly warm down here without proper clothing. This basement is so drafty this time of year." She paused and suddenly dug in her front pants pocket. "Before I forget, here's this back."

I looked up from watching the steep, narrow steps to see her hand with my father's Egyptian rune on its chain in her palm. I smiled and took it, draping it back around my neck. "Thank you, seriously."